Man who went through 'hell' over sexuality spared jail for child porn

The 58-year-old Winnipeg man was shunned by his own family as a teen after revealing he was homosexual and has struggled to hold down a job while battling homelessness, health and legal issues.

But Troughton caught a break Wednesday when he appeared in court to plead guilty to possessing child pornography. A former landlord had discovered four pictures of naked young boys that Troughton left behind in 2010.

The Crown wanted a jail sentence of two months. But provincial court Judge Robert Heinrichs said it was the type of case that called for mercy and empathy.

“I can imagine it was a lonely, difficult world for you,” Heinrichs said upon hearing about Troughton’s background, which was captured in a pre-sentence report. “The hell you’ve gone through.”

The judge then went a step further, noting he was about the same age as Troughton and related his own experience while growing up in a Mennonite community where homosexuality “was not accepted.”

“I was probably as guilty as some of my friends of calling the guy who was different a ‘fag’ or some other words. When I think back on it, I’m ashamed of some of the things that we did,” Heinrichs said.

“We were probably really cruel and not fair and didn’t understand. I can only imagine how difficult it was for the one guy I’m thinking of in particular. I don’t know where he is now.”

Troughton was given a three-year suspended sentence with probation. His conditions include not being alone with anyone under the age of 16, sex offender counselling and performing 100 hours of community service.

“I’m just really sorry any of this happened in the first place. I want to get this part of my life behind me,” Troughton told the judge.

Troughton will be placed on the national sex offender registry for the next 10 years.

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WINNIPEG — Life has not been easy for Ray Troughton.

The 58-year-old Winnipeg man was shunned by his own family as a teen after revealing he was homosexual and has struggled to hold down a job while battling homelessness, health and legal issues.